--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're not scared when you are writing…" description: "\"“If you're not scared when you are writing you're not working hard enough. You'll be afraid but you have to keep going.”\" — M. Molly Backes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/m-molly-backes-52964_afraid_if-you-re-not-scared-when-you-are-writin_3109775.jpg" --- # If you're not scared when you are writing you're not… ![“If you're not scared when you are writing you're not working hard enough. You'll be afraid but you have to keep going.” quote by M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/m-molly-backes-52964_afraid_if-you-re-not-scared-when-you-are-writin_3109775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/m-molly-backes-52964_afraid_if-you-re-not-scared-when-you-are-writin_3109775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/m-molly-backes-52964_afraid_if-you-re-not-scared-when-you-are-writin_3109775.jpg) > ““If you're not scared when you are writing you're not working hard enough. You'll be afraid but you have to keep going.”” [M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work in writing feels scary; fear signals effort and growth. **In simple terms:** Writing hard feels scary. Key Takeaway Embrace fear and keep writing. Themes creativity effort growth Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - writing projects - creative blocks - deadline pressure - learning new skills Key Concepts psychology motivation resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn fear into motivation? - What strategies keep you moving when scared? A Different Perspective Fear can become paralysis if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Working hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-hard/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [But I'm more scared of not writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/but-i-m-more-scared-of-not-writing/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [Why am I compelled to write?... Because the world I create in the writing compensates for what the real world does not give me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-anzaldua/why-am-i-compelled-to-write-because-the-world-i-create-in-the-writing/) [Gloria Anzaldua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-anzaldua/) > [Anxiety is not only an inevitable part of the writing process but a necessary part. If you’re not scared, you’re not writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-keyes/anxiety-is-not-only-an-inevitable-part-of-the-writing-process-but-a/) [Ralph Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-keyes/) > [I start with fear. It comes in so many forms. When I write, some of the fear goes away. So I write into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/i-start-with-fear-it-comes-in-so-many-forms-when-i-write-some-of-the/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [I often tell people to stop being afraid of writing bad poetry, or bad anything. I think that a lot of times, when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/i-often-tell-people-to-stop-being-afraid-of-writing-bad-poetry-or-bad/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [Writing is the main gig and teaching and performing are sidelines, an excuse for not writing more. Working on a novel and on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/writing-is-the-main-gig-and-teaching-and-performing-are-sidelines-an/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I worked probably 25 years by myself, just writing and working, not trying to publish much, not giving readings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-worked-probably-25-years-by-myself-just-writing-and-working-not/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Writing that's not working for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-asprin/writing-that-s-not-working-for-a-living/) [Robert Asprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-asprin/) > [“For me, if I have writer’s block it means I know that what I am writing is not working quite right and I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/for-me-if-i-have-writer-s-block-it-means-i-know-that-what-i-am/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I think I'm always writing, and I'm always working, and I'm always trying to be creative. 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I'm either writing to get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/often-i-write-to-feel-better-and-to-heal-to-cope-with-things-that-i-m/) [Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/) > [After seven years of writing - and working many jobs to support my family - I finally got published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/after-seven-years-of-writing-and-working-many-jobs-to-support-my/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [I'm always writing, always working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-acaster/i-m-always-writing-always-working/) [James Acaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-acaster/) > [Writing is a sedentary gig unless one has a treadmill desk. But I have long believed writing and working out are complementary disciplines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/writing-is-a-sedentary-gig-unless-one-has-a-treadmill-desk-but-i-have/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) ## More by M. Molly Backes > [“I've never felt a connection like this with anyone else... I don't even know how to explain it. I feel like I already knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-molly-backes/i-ve-never-felt-a-connection-like-this-with-anyone-else-i-don-t-even/) [M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) > [“None of us is delicate enough to touch anyone else without hurting them a little bit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-molly-backes/none-of-us-is-delicate-enough-to-touch-anyone-else-without-hurting/) [M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) > [“How the hell do you sum up your sister in three minutes? She's your twin and your polar opposite. She's your constant companion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-molly-backes/how-the-hell-do-you-sum-up-your-sister-in-three-minutes-she-s-your/) [M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) > [“The point of freewriting is to get past the voice inside your head that tells you your ideas aren't good enough, your words aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-molly-backes/the-point-of-freewriting-is-to-get-past-the-voice-inside-your-head/) [M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) > [“It's your writing you guys. Follow it wherever it takes you. All you need to do is tell your truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-molly-backes/it-s-your-writing-you-guys-follow-it-wherever-it-takes-you-all-you/) [M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) > [“If you are here because you think writing will always be fun, you're in for a disappointment. Writing -- real writing -- is among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-molly-backes/if-you-are-here-because-you-think-writing-will-always-be-fun-you-re/) [M. Molly Backes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) [Explore all 7 M. Molly Backes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-molly-backes/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you're not scared when you are writing you're not working hard enough. 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